Australia politics live update: Morrison introduces religious discrimination bill; Victoria records 1,254 new Covid cases

Australia politics live update: Morrison introduces religious discrimination bill; Victoria records 1,254 new Covid cases

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Tony Burke is pointing out that Andrew Wallace has declared the noes as having won the motion, without having declared the question/outcome.

Peter Dutton is now trying to back in Wallace, while telling him what he needs to do.

Burke is arguing against him

It is, as they say, a complete mess on the floor right now.




Kevin Andrews is trying to tell Andrew Wallace what he should be doing.

Wallace is checking.




Josh Frydenberg had a very long chat with Bridget Archer as she made her way across the chamber to vote with the crossbench.

George Christensen voted with the government (he’s voting on his conscience at the moment) so did Llew O’Brien who has previously, publicly said he would consider crossing the floor.

Speaker Andrew Wallace is really struggling with what comes next, and what question is being put to the house.

Kevin Andrews is trying to seek the call.

It’s a bit of a mess.




Motion to suspend standing orders is defeated 66 to 63

Ayes 63

Noes 66

So the motion to suspend standing orders is defeated.

The speaker seems a little confused about what comes next.

Updated




The entire crossbench, including Craig Kelly is voting to suspend standing orders, along with Labor and Bridget Archer.




It looks like Llew O’Brien is on the government benches for this vote.




With Bridget Archer on board, the crossbench just needs one more government MP to cross the floor to suspend standing orders to bring on the debate.




Both Andrew Wilkie and Bob Katter have interrupted Paul Fletcher to basically say, get on with it, and they want to have a debate on Helen Haines’ bill, not the government one.

Fletcher runs out of time to clear up what he says are ‘misconceptions’ with the government bill.

The house divides.




Bob Katter takes a very round about way to say he will be supporting the suspension of standing orders to bring on the debate.

It is, as always, a ride.

Paul Fletcher confirms the government WILL NOT be supporting the motion, as it doesn’t believe the Haines bill covers things off.

He says the government bill is ready to be introduced (that would be the one that no thinks actually addresses the issue)




Rebekha Sharkie is also in support of the bill. She commends Bridget Archer for her move, and says other members of the government who have privately expressed they feel the same way as Archer should show the same courage.

Llew O’Brien has previously said publicly he would consider crossing the floor on this issue.

Updated




Here is Helen Haines on why she is moving this motion now:

Helen Haines MP
(@helenhainesindi)

I am moving to suspend standing orders in the House to get my bill to create the Australian Federal Integrity Commission. We have waited too long for an integrity commission.


November 24, 2021

Helen Haines MP
(@helenhainesindi)

I have watched scandal after scandal go uninvestigated, with no independent watchdog on the beat.
Each day that we delay is another day of deterioration of trust in this place, and among the Australian people.
Each day, it becomes harder to claw back that trust.


November 24, 2021

Helen Haines MP
(@helenhainesindi)

There are only 4 sitting days left this year. We may not be back again. This might be our last chance.
If someone is serious about an integrity commission, they would write a bill to set it up.
They would table it. They would bring it on for debate.
That’s what I have done.


November 24, 2021

Helen Haines MP
(@helenhainesindi)

The Government has acted very differently.
An endless merry-go-round of consultation.
Shutting down debate in the House.
Shutting down debate in the Senate.
It’s clear the Government is ignoring the will of the people.
And now, it’s obstructing the will of the Parliament.


November 24, 2021




Bridget Archer did preview she could do this, as Sarah Martin reported:




Australia’s overseas spy service has revealed that the former deputy commissioner of the NSW police force, Catherine Burn, is now its deputy director-general.

The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (Asis) decided to publicly reveal the identities of its two deputy directors general (previously only the director-general, Paul Simon, was publicly disclosed). Burn’s appointment occurred in April 2018, but has only been revealed now.

The Asis website has been updated to say: “Catherine was appointed ASIS’s Deputy-Director General Capability & Corporate Management in April 2018. Prior to this, Catherine had a distinguished career with the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) reaching the rank of Deputy Commissioner.”

The other Deputy-Director General (for Operations) is Fabio Meloni, a long-time foreign affairs official.

A report by the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security – tabled in parliament this week – explained this disclosure: “For the purposes of the 2019-20 No. 19 Review, the ASIS Director-General advised the Committee of his decision pursuant to s.41(b)(ii) of the IS Act to publicly declare the identities of the two Deputy Directors-General of ASIS. This declaration is reflected in the official witness list for the classified hearings for these reviews from April 2021, and the Committee acknowledges the trust placed in the Administration and Expenditure Review process with the formal identification of Mr Fabio Meloni and Ms Catherine Burn through this mechanism.”




Zali Steggall is also pushing for the suspension of standing orders.

Labor will also support it.




Second Coalition backbencher crosses the floor

The member for Bass, Bridget Archer, has crossed the floor (a day after George Christensen did it) to allow debate on Helen Haine’s federal Icac bill.

Archer says it is isn’t perfect, but it deserves debate.

The government defeated a similar motion Rex Patrick made in the Senate yesterday, so Archer’s move is not insignificant, given the numbers in the house.

Updated





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